NAME ________________________________

Explore the Neuroscience for Kids Web Site (QUESTIONS)
Start at: http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/neurok.html

On the left side, click on “Explore,” then click on “The Neuron,” then click on “Millions andBillions of Cells: Type of Neurons” to answer the following questions:

1. A neuron is a _________ cell. The brain is made up of about ______billion neurons.
2. Neurons are similar to other cells in the body in some ways such as:a. Neurons are surrounded by a _______________________________________.
b. Neurons have a _________________________ that contains _____________.
c. Neurons contain cytoplasm, mitochondria and other ______________________.
3. However, neurons differ from other cells in the body in some ways such as:a. Neurons have specialized projections called __________________ and _________.
b. Dendrites bring information to the ______________.
c. ______take information away from the cell body.
d. Neurons communicate with each other through an ____________________process.
4. Neurons form specialized connections called __________________ and produce special
chemicals called ______________________________ that are released at the synapse.

Scroll down to the chart comparing axons and dendrites. Fill in the answers:
There are several differences between axons and dendrites:
AXONS

DENDRITES

Take information ________ the cell bodyBring information _________ the cell body______________ Surface___________ Surface (dendritic spines)

Generally only ___________ per cell

Usually __________________ per cell

No _____________________________Have ribosomes

Can have _________________________

No ________________________ insulation

Branch further from the cell body

Branch ______________ the cell body1Take the short neuron quiz at the bottom of the page, and correctly answer these questions:

1. Neuron part that releases neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft._________________.
2. Fatty material that surrounds some axons. ___________________________________.
3. Takes information away from the cell body. ___________________________________.
4. The gaps in the myelin sheath. _____________________________________________.
5. Part of neuron that contains the nucleus. _____________________________________.
6. Takes information to the cell body. __________________________________________.
7. Organelle in neuron that contains genetic material. _____________________________.
Go back to “Explore,” then click on “Brain Basics,” then on “Divisions of the Nervous
System” to answer these questions:
1. What is the definition of “neuroanatomy?” ______________________________________
2. The nervous system can be divided into "systems" -- what are they? ______________________________________________________________________________
3. The central nervous system is divided into two major parts. What are they?
____________________ and _______________________________________
4. The brain contains about 100 billion nerve cells (neurons) and trillions of support cells called___________________________________________________.
5. The peripheral nervous system is divided into two major parts, the ____________ nervous
system and the ______________ nervous system, and a third part called the ____________
nervous system.
6. The somatic nervous system consists of peripheral nerve fibers that send sensory
information to the ___________ nervous system AND motor nerve fibers that project to______________________________.
7. The autonomic nervous system is divided into three parts: the ___________ nervous system,
the ____________________ nervous system and the ____________ nervous system. The
autonomic nervous system controls smooth muscle of the viscera (internal organs) and_______________.
8. The _____________ nervous system is a third division of the autonomic nervous system thatyou do not hear much about. The enteric nervous system is a meshwork of nerve fibers thatinnervate the viscera (___________________________________, and gall bladder).

2Scroll down the page to “Brain Structures:”
1. The word "cortex" comes from the Latin word for "__________" (of a tree). This is because thecortex is a sheet of tissue that makes up the ________________________ of the brain.
2. The thickness of the cerebral cortex varies from _____ to ________ mm. The right and left
sides of the cerebral cortex are connected by a thick band of nerve fibers called the"_____________________________________".

Go back to “Explore,” click on “Brain Basics,” then click on “Our Divided Brain: Lobes ofthe Brain” to answer these questions.
1. Name the 4 lobes of the brain. ___________________________________________
2. Which lobe is concerned with perception of stimuli related to touch, pressure, temperatureand pain? _________________________________
3. Which lobe is concerned with many aspects of vision? ______________________________
4. Which lobe is concerned with reasoning, planning, parts of speech and movement (motorcortex), emotions, and problem-solving?_______________________________
5. Which lobe is concerned with perception and recognition of auditory stimuli (hearing) andmemory (hippocampus)? ________________________________________________
6. In the “Did You Know” section he frontal lobe, click “more about poor Mr. Gage.” What
happened to Phineas Gage,” a worker who had a large iron stake pierce his skull. Answer thesequestions:a. In what year did the accident take place? ________________________
b. How thick was the tamping rod that went through his skull? ______________________
c. How long was the tamping rod? ____________________________________________
d. How much did the rod weigh? _____________________________________________
e. What happened after the rod went through? _________________________________
f. Did the rod injure his eye? ______________________
g. How long did Phineas stay in the hospital to recover from his injury? _______________
h. Who is the doctor who treated Phineas? ________________________________
i. List some of the adjectives used to describe the “new” Phineas: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
j. Why was Phineas not hired back to his old job after he recovered? _________________________________________________________________________________________
k. When did Phineas die? ___________________________
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l. Where is Phineas’skull today? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
m. The part of Phineas’brain that was damaged was most likely the _____________,
which controls ______________________________.
Return to “BRAIN BASICS,” scroll down and click on “Compare the Brains of 9 Species.”
Take the test to see how many brains you can identify.
1. How many did you answer correctly? _____________
2. Which animal has the smallest brain of those pictured? ____________________________
3. Which animal has the largest? ___________________________
4. The dolphin brain is the most “convoluted” of all. What does this suggest? (The answer is notstated; can you come up with a plausible explanation?” ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Choose one other topic from the list of items under Explore the Brain and Spinal Cord thatappeals to you, and read it. Take notes below on some of the interesting/ informational
points:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Finished Early? Answer these for Extra Credit
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/neurok.html
1. About how many neurons are there in the average human brain?
2. What features do neurons have in common with other cells in the body?
3. In what ways are neurons unique?
4. What's inside a neuron?
5. The axons of neurons differ in the speed with which they conduct neural impulses. How manydifferent basic neural speeds are there?
6. Is there a relationship between the type of information conveyed by an axon and the speed atwhich it conducts impulses?)
7. What defensive weapon do spiders, snakes, scorpions and some bees share in common?
8. How are these substances similar to nerve agents and other chemical weapons?
9. Why are glial cells referred to as the "forgotten brain cells?"
10. State five ways that glia differ from neurons.
11. What would happen to your behavior if your glia suddenly stopped functioning?

(This worksheet was created by Joyce Taaffe, at teacher at Wheeler High School, Marietta, GA.)

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